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CHAPTER TWO — HIS PARANOIA
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2026-01-31 18:40:17Aria's pov.
He had removed his jacket and his white shirt was rolled to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms.
The table was set with enough food for a small army. Eggs, toast, fresh fruit, pastries and even coffee.
Lucien sat at the head of the table, reading something on his tablet. He didn't look up when I entered.
"Sit down and eat," he said still not looking at me.
I sat across him and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
I picked up a piece of toast and that was when his eyes finally lifted.
He watched me take a bite with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Like he was cataloging every movement and every micro-expression, looking for signs that I was planning something.
"I'm not going to run," I said quietly.
His lips curved into something that might have been a smile on anyone else. But on Lucien, it just looked bitter.
"You've said that before, usually right before you try something creative."
"I mean it this time."
"You've said that before too." He set down his tablet and leaned back, studying me with those unreadable grey eyes. "Three weeks ago, you told me you were done fighting, that you understood I was just trying to protect you. You seemed so sincere."
He paused as something flickered across his perfect features, pain? maybe or anger.
"The next morning, you drugged the coffee you made for me and tried to steal my car keys while I was unconscious."
I flinched subconsciously, How come I didn't remember that but I actually believed him.
"I was wrong," I said. "About everything. About you, about Lydia, about Ethan…"
"Don't." Lucien said sharply as he stood up in one fluid motion, I saw his hands clench briefly before he controlled it. "Don't mention his name in my house."
There it was, real emotion breaking through that controlled facade. That was jealousy, raw and visceral.
"Lucien…"
"Eat your breakfast, Aria." His voice was cold again, perfectly controlled. "I have a meeting at nine."
He walked toward the door, then stopped.
"Marcus and Chen will be here within the hour. They'll stay with you while I'm gone. Don't try to seduce them because it won't work. Don't try to bribe them as well, they're paid very well. And don't try to outsmart them." He finally turned to look at me with his ice like grey eyes.
"Because if you manage to escape while I'm gone, within an hour, I will find you and when I do, I will not be gentle while I bring you back."
The threat should have terrified me, but Instead, it made my heart race for entirely different reasons.
Oh no, what was wrong with me? Why did his possessive control suddenly seem protective instead of suffocating?
"I won't try to escape," I said with the widest grin my thin lips could allow.
Lucien's expression didn't change. "We'll see about that."
He quietly walked out as I heard him giving instructions about security protocols and monitoring schedule to someone on his phone.
All because of me.
I continued eating as my mind began to race.
I couldn't just suddenly be the perfect, compliant wife. Lucien would never believe it, he would think it was another manipulation.
I needed to be smart about this and also strategic and I needed to deal with Lydia and Ethan, not by cutting them off, but by making them pay for what they'd done, no…what they were going to do.
But to do that, I had to keep them close. I had to let them think they still had a chance.
I was still picking at my food when I heard the front door open and close. Lucien was leaving for work.
A part of me wanted to run after him to see him one more time before he left but I hurriedly shook my head at the thought.
Two men in dark suits appeared in the doorway. They looked professional and alert. The kind of security only serious money could buy.
"Mrs. Blackwood," the taller one said with a slight nod. "I'm Marcus. This is Chen. We'll be here until Mr. Blackwood returns."
"I know," I said quietly. "He has told me."
Marcus's expression flickered with surprise. Usually, I would have been screaming about being babysat, about being treated like a prisoner.
But that won't be happening today… not anymore.
I spent the next hour trying to read, but I just couldn't focus. My mind kept drifting to Lucien. To the pain I'd seen flickering in his eyes, the way his voice had cracked, just for a moment, when he'd mentioned my escape attempts.
I'd broken something in him and I didn't know if I could fix it.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed, interrupting my train of thoughts.
Lydia: Hey babe! How are you feeling today? I'm worried about you. Can I come over? I miss you!
I stared at the message, bile rising in my throat.
In my previous timeline, if that was what it was, I would have immediately responded. I would have literally begged her to come, crying about how trapped I felt.
Now, seeing her message made my skin crawl but I still needed to play along, at least for now.
Me: I'm okay. I'm just tired. Maybe later this week?
Three dots appeared immediately.
Lydia: Later this week?! Aria, you tried to KILL yourself last night! I'm coming over RIGHT NOW. I won't take no for an answer.
My hands tightened on the phone.
Of course she was coming. She needed to make sure her manipulation was still working, she needed to drive that wedge between me and Lucien deeper.
Me: Okay. I'll tell security to let you up.
I went to Marcus. "My friend Lydia is coming over. Lucien knows her, she's been visiting regularly."
Marcus's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. "Mr. Blackwood left specific instructions about Ms. Moore."
"Which are?"
"She's to be allowed entry only if you explicitly request it." He paused. "And we're to remain in the apartment at all times during her visit."
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